Why Your State Legislature Is Not As Fun As Kentucky's

The question here is not whether Johnny Bell plotted to fire the women making claims of sexual harassment against Joe Arnold (if he did, he wasn't alone); the question is whether Bell or Tom Riner has more juice in the Democratic caucus.

Jack Brammer at the Herald:

State Rep. Tom Riner, D-Louisville, wrote in a Jan. 1 letter to his Democratic colleagues that he received a "shocking email" this week from one of the women who have alleged they were sexually harassed by former state Rep. John Arnold, D-Sturgis.

The email detailed "how a legislator running for a House leadership position was telling other legislators of his intent to 'clean house,' including terminating her employment if elected," Riner wrote in his letter.

Riner did not name the lawmaker or the employee, but an attorney for one of the women identified the candidate Friday as state Rep. Johnny Bell of Glasgow. Bell is challenging Rep. Tommy Thompson of Owensboro for majority whip.

Riner is a Louisville liberal. Bell and Thompson are Western Kentucky conservadems. Riner will never be elected to the conservadem House leadership.  But he might be able to prevent Bell from doing so.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2015/01/02/3621483/sexual-harassment-scandal-surfaces.html?sp=/99/164/#storylink=cpy